Quote:
Originally Posted by Kutless
In the second, a young lady sat with her boyfriend (he's the one that wants the Bible study). SHe goes to church and was raised there. She sat with tears streaming down her face on my couch telling how she has never been able to live up to the "standard" and is know ashamed to go to the altar or even raise her hands to worship.
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I've been thinking of this statement and am reminded of the Centurion who felt unworthy for Jesus to enter house. It commendable, I think, of this person to fell that, unless she is willing to give 100% to the Lord, she feels unworthy to even approach Him.
However, I find it sad that she has been conditioned to "meet" some standard before the Lord will accept her. Of all the examples of sinners coming to the Lord in the Bible, none were worthy, and none had to meet a standard to recieve God's grace. The woman caught in adultery was accepted by Jesus, THEN, and only then, He advised here to depart from sin. The woman at the well was accepted of the Lord, not on the condition of meeting a standard, but rather on her faith in Jesus as the Messiah. I don't know what "standard" this woman you speak of felt that she had to meet or live by, but, salvation is not predicated on keeping rules, and standards. Salvation is based on our faith in accepting the Lord as our Savior. Then, once we are accepted of Him at salvation, then He will help us to live by Christian principles.
I think its for good reason Jesus called us "fishers of men" And its also for good reason fishing is explemified in the NT so often. We should learn to catch the fish, then worry about cleaning them after they are in the boat! But, then again, sometimes, its our "cleaning skills" that leaves alot to be desired. We have resoluted and standardized our methods so much that theres very little left of the fish when we get throiugh with 'em.
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